Comments on: Onesimus http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:17:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Jay http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7501 Jay Sat, 26 May 2007 03:22:37 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7501 Rollin, that sounds right to me. Thanks! Rollin, that sounds right to me. Thanks!

]]> By: Rollin http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7499 Rollin Sat, 26 May 2007 02:06:40 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7499 Could it be that the law of the land (Roman, right?) in Paul's day was not in accord with Deuteronomy, and thus mandated returning a slave? Paul and Onesimus, subject to the authority of the civil authority, would have obeyed that mandate? Could it be that the law of the land (Roman, right?) in Paul’s day was not in accord with Deuteronomy, and thus mandated returning a slave? Paul and Onesimus, subject to the authority of the civil authority, would have obeyed that mandate?

]]> By: Jay http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7486 Jay Thu, 24 May 2007 21:12:34 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7486 Look at 1 Corinthians 7:21. Does this include escape? If so, it echoes the premise of the Deuteronomy passage. Yet we know slaves are commended to serve their masters as unto the Lord, and all the more if their masters are Christians. That doesn't seem to be compatible with escaping. At the same time, I don't understand how escaping was a good thing in the Old Testament either given the broader case law, so Deuteronomy 23 really jumped out at me. Which brings me to my next question: Was Paul obligating Philemon to free Onesimus? In Israel, Israelite slaves were to be freed every Sabbath year (every seventh year), and they were not to be sent out empty handed. Thus, when Onesimus returned to Philemon as a Christian brother, was Philemon now obligated to send him out a free man (and with provisions) at some point in the near future? Onesimus' theft would stand in the way, but Paul very clearly wants that debt out of the way. Look at 1 Corinthians 7:21 [+/-]. Does this include escape? If so, it echoes the premise of the Deuteronomy passage. Yet we know slaves are commended to serve their masters as unto the Lord, and all the more if their masters are Christians. That doesn’t seem to be compatible with escaping.

At the same time, I don’t understand how escaping was a good thing in the Old Testament either given the broader case law, so Deuteronomy 23 [+/-] really jumped out at me.

Which brings me to my next question: Was Paul obligating Philemon to free Onesimus? In Israel, Israelite slaves were to be freed every Sabbath year (every seventh year), and they were not to be sent out empty handed. Thus, when Onesimus returned to Philemon as a Christian brother, was Philemon now obligated to send him out a free man (and with provisions) at some point in the near future? Onesimus’ theft would stand in the way, but Paul very clearly wants that debt out of the way.

]]> By: Mom/Ruth http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7485 Mom/Ruth Thu, 24 May 2007 20:51:09 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7485 You're too kind! You’re too kind!

]]> By: Michael http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7484 Michael Thu, 24 May 2007 20:30:10 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7484 I was going to say that it doe seems to be the Gospel that leads Paul to "turn in" Onesimus. It also suggests that the Gospel affects social structures like slavery. The Gospel doesn't do away with slavery here but it does affect it. Sure, Philemon and Onesimus can/will still be master-slave, respectively, but trumping that construct is the story of the Gospel. I was going to say that it doe seems to be the Gospel that leads Paul to “turn in” Onesimus. It also suggests that the Gospel affects social structures like slavery. The Gospel doesn’t do away with slavery here but it does affect it. Sure, Philemon and Onesimus can/will still be master-slave, respectively, but trumping that construct is the story of the Gospel.

]]> By: Jay http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7477 Jay Thu, 24 May 2007 14:34:05 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7477 Mom, I wasn't going to comment on your first comment, other than to say great minds think alike. Mom, I wasn’t going to comment on your first comment, other than to say great minds think alike.

]]> By: Mom/Ruth http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7476 Mom/Ruth Thu, 24 May 2007 13:45:14 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7476 A senior moment - Reading your entry again to the end I see you already suggested the answer I offered above, and using the same language. However, I would add that possibly Paul felt that reconciliation was needed because now master and run-away slave were now brothers in Christ. A senior moment - Reading your entry again to the end I see you already suggested the answer I offered above, and using the same language. However, I would add that possibly Paul felt that reconciliation was needed because now master and run-away slave were now brothers in Christ.

]]> By: Mom/Ruth http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7474 Mom/Ruth Thu, 24 May 2007 13:10:51 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/2007/05/onesimus/#comment-7474 Could it be that because Onesimus had stolen from Philemon, Paul knew restitution of some sort was necessary? (I'm assuming that Paul is talking about theft of something material, not just the value of a slave.) I'm reading through NTW's treatment of Philemon in his Paul for Everyone series, but I don't think he addresses your concern - I'll look more carefully. Could it be that because Onesimus had stolen from Philemon, Paul knew restitution of some sort was necessary? (I’m assuming that Paul is talking about theft of something material, not just the value of a slave.) I’m reading through NTW’s treatment of Philemon in his Paul for Everyone series, but I don’t think he addresses your concern - I’ll look more carefully.

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